Railway gate



Max". 13, 1923.

J. B. ATKINS RAILWAY GATE Filed Oct.

5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Mar. l3, i923.

STATES I nane retreat clerics.

JOSEPH B. ATKINS OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AS S IGNOR TO ATKINS SAFETY AUTO- IMATIC GATE COMPANY, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

RAILWAY GATE.

Application filed October 30, 1919. Serial No. 334,527.

To HZ] whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Josnrn B. humans, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and iitate of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Railway Gate, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to safety appliances for railways, being designed to. provide a gate which is automatic in operation, closing when the train approaches a crossing or er point to be safeguarded and opening the train leaves the crossing or other it protected by means of the gate.

The invention aims to supply a gate and actuatingmechanism therefor which ma be cheaply installed, economically maintained and which is dependable and automatic in ope ation, both as to closing and opening, and which is controlled solely by the train or other rolling stoclr.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that in to meet different conditions, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without (ileparting from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention in applied relation,

Figure l is a side view of a gate and cooperating mechanism, a portion of the gate being broken away and the casing enclosing tie actuatin mechanism being in section.

Figure 2 is a detail View ofthe inner end of the gate and the support therefor as seen from the reverse side of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, the upper portion of the casing being removed to dis close the interior mechanism.

Figure 4.- is a sectional view on the line in the direction of view of the detent the gate in lowered adapting the same hinged to a block 28 position and at different stages in the actuation thereof, when closing,

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 8,

Figure 10 shows respectively a top plan View and a side elevation of circuit closing means.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The gate A consists of an arm which is pivoted to swing in a vertical plane. While the gate may be of any construction, it is shown as'consisting of tubing. The gate may be provided with any indicating matter which may be utilized to render the gate visible at a safe distance. The gate is counterbalanced so as normally to stand upright in open position. When in closed position, the gate projects horizontally across the roadwa or other point to be safeguarded. A suitable stand B is provided at one side of the track in a manner well understood and in the present instance consists of a casing which encloses the actuating mechanism associated directly with the gate. A shaft 17 is mounted in the stand B and projects at one end and has the gate A secured thereto in any substantial way to cause the gate and shaft to rotate together. A mutilated gear C is secured to the shaft 17 so as to turn therewith and the same comprises a toothed portion 18, a plain portion 21 and a stop or projection 22 at the outer end of the plain portion 21. The mutilated gear C is of segmental formation since it is not required that it make a complete revolution since in practice it rotates approximately one fourth of a circle which is suflicient to cause the gate A to move from vertical to horizontal position and vice versa. The projection 22 at one end of the plain portion 21 and the extreme tooth 18 at the opposite end of the plain portion 21 constitutes stops which are adapted to actuate a member 23 of a duplex circuit closer. I

It will be noted that the member 23 is and that a spring 23 has one end connected to the member 23 and the other end to said block. Thus whenever the member 23 is struck by either the tooth 18 or the projection 22 it will be thrown'across the head center and the spring 23 will tend to hold it in that position.

- operative backward rotation thereof.

I assume a vertical or open position under the influence of lever so as to impart an oscillatory move Q turning by reason of the pawl 38. hen "into normal position the pinion 35 turns whenenergized withdraws the detent solenoid 26 is energized its core is attracted closed or at different stages in Q s p p 1,448,478

9 and. 10 and is means of an electromagnet 4 which is includedin a track circuit D. This element 7 is Controlled by the armature 7 of the magnet or solenoid 4, said armature having its end bent at an angle and engaging the end of the element 7 whereby movement of the armature toward the magnet will wedge the element 7 in one direction while release of the armature permits the element 7 to move in the opposite direction 'it being a spring element. This track circuit also includes a signal E which may be of the audible or visible type such as commonly provided in railway signal appliances. The track circuit D includes a battery F which represents a source ofsupply of electricity. The

A shaft 20 likewise mounted in the casing B and disposed parallel with the shaft 17 has a pinion "24 secured thereto for rotation therewith and in meshing relation with the toothed portion 18 of the mutilated gear C. A gear wheel 19 fast to the shaft 20 is in corelation with a pinion 35 carried by a. lever 33 which is pivoted at a toa bracket 1) projecting from the inner side of the casing B. A pawl 38 is pivoted to the lever 33 and is adapted to projectinto the path of the teeth of the pinion 35 toprevent The pawl is of elbow shape and one arm is provided with an armature 50 which co-operates' with the core of an electromagnet 44 mounted upon and carried by the lever 33. NVhen the electromagnet 44 is energized and attracts the armature 50 the pawl 33 is moved to aposition so as to clear the teeth of the pinion 35 which is free to rotate in a direction to permit the gate A to automatically a train or car entering a block extending to any distance each side of the gate so that the latter may be automatically closed from either approach.

The gate operating mechanism includes the solenoid 26 and electromagnets 40 and the counter-balancing means 44 the latter magnets serving to release thereof.

An electromagnet 26 or" the solenoid type has-its core or armature connected with the opening of'the gate after the train or car has passed the crossing or other point protected by means of the invention. Under normal conditions when the gate A is open and the section of track protected thereby is unoccupied, the circuit through the different electromagnets is broken. Referring to the diagram, Fig. 5, willbe seen that the gate operating mechanism includes a circuit containing a battery G or other source of supply of electricity. The circuit includes several switches. One of the switches comprising the elements 7 9 and 10. Another switch consists of the elements 23 28 and 46, the element 23 being disposed between the elements 28 and 46 and .pro]' space represented by the plain portion 21. of the mutilated gear C so as to be engaged by the stop 22 and the terminal tooth 18. A third switch. comprises the elements 30 and 51 which are disposed to be actuated by the movement of the lever 33. Under normal conditions that is when the free end of the lever 33 is at its highest position tie elements 30 and 51 are in electrical connecment thereto. An expansible helical spring 32 co-operates with the lever 33 and core of the solenoid 26 and serves to normally hold the lever 33 in elevated position. When the and the end of the lever 33 provided with a pinion 35 drawn downward with the resultthat the gear wheel 19 has a partial rotation imparted thereto which through the intermediate gearing tends to lower the gate. When the free end of the lever 33 moves downward the pinion 35 is prevented from the free end of the lever 33 moves upward without imparting any backward movement to the gear wheel 19. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6. the end of thepawl 38 is of such construction as to admit of the pinion 35 turning when returning to normal position.

'Retrograde movement of the gear wheel 19 is prevented by means of a detent or pawl 39' the same being disposed in co-operative relation with an electromagnet 40 which 39 from the path of the teeth of the gear wheel. 19. Under normal conditions the detent 39 occupies a position so as to engage the teeth of the gear wheel 19 andv hold the gate its closing will be understood that the be of anyconstruc- As shown mostclearly in Fig. 1 a part of the supporting frame of the electromagnet 44 is disposed to engagethe element 30 and close the switch represented by the elements 30 and 51. When the solenoid 26 is energized and attracts its core the lever 33 moves and carries the part of the ,electromagnet supporting frame 44 away from the element 30 whereby and breaks: he circuit through the solenoid 26 thereby permittinggthe parts to. assume a normal position under the action of the spring 32 whereby the circuit is again closed movement. It. detent mechanism may tion to be electrically operated. 7

A. duplex switch or circuit. closer is in.- cluded in the circuit containingthesolenoid 26 and comprises elements 7 9 and 10. The

element is arranged between the elements adapted to be controlled by the detents 39 and 38 to permit the automatic ecting into the i the switch automatically opens track circuit D is adapted'to be closed by tion so as to close the circuit therethrough.

tuating element in and the lever 33 actuated. The opening and closing of the circuit by means of the switch 305I effects an oscillatory movement of the lever 33 and an intermittent or step by step movement oI the gear wheel 19 whereby the gate is positively moved from open into closed position. When the gate reaches the closed position the terminal tooth 18 or equivalent stop engages the element 23 and moves the same so as to break the operating circuit including the solenoid 26. So long as the section of the track protected by the gate is occupied by a train, car, or other rolling stock the track circuit remains closed and the electromagnet 4 energized thereby attracting its armature and holding the switch element 7 in electrical connection with the switch element 9. When the section of track is clear the track circuit D is broken and the switch element 7 is clear of the switch element 9 and in electric connection with the element lO-whereby the releasing circuit including the electromagnets 40 and 44 is closed and thedeten-ts 39 and 38 attracted so as to release the members 19 and 35 whereby the gate A may return from closed position into open position under the influence of the counterbalancing or resetting means. hen the gate assumes open position the stop 22 comes in contact with the element 23 and breaks the releasing circuit, and the detents 39 and 38 being released from the attractive force of the electromagnets cooperating therewith assume operative position to prevent retrograde movement of the members 19 and 35 with which they co-operate respectively.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is v 1. Protective means for railways, the same comprising a gate, means normally holding the gate in open position, actuating means for closing the gate including a gear wheel, an electrically actuated detent mechanism for holding the gate in closed position and at different stages in its closing movement, intermittently electrically operated means for closing the gate by stages, the same including a detent mechanism, a releasing circuit for the two detent mechanisms to permit the gate to automatically open when the track section protected by the gate is clear, and a track circuit controlling the actuating means for closing the gate when said track section is occupied.

2. In protective means of the character set forth, a train of gearing for a railway gate, a lever, an actuating element mounted upon the lever and co-operating with the train of gearing to effect intermittent movement thereof for closing the railway gate by stages, a detent carried by the lever and normally preventing rotation of said acone direction, an electromagnet mounted upon the said lever and included in a releasing circuit which when closed moves the said detent cl ar of the.

actuating element, a switch in the closing circuit automatically operable by the said train of gearing and means for'imparting an oscillatory movement to the said lever.

3. In protecting means of the characteii' set forth, operating means for a railway gate including a gear wheel, a detent for preventing backward rotation of the gear wheel, an operating member, means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the operating member including an operating circuit and switch, an actuating element carried by the operating member, a detentin co-operative relation with the actuating element, a releasing circuit including the two detent elements and including a switch automatically operable by the gate actuating mechanism and means .carried by the said operating member for intermittently actuating the switch of the operating circuit whereby said operating member has an oscillatory movement imparted thereto.

4. Protective means of the character specified, thesame comprising actuating mech anism for a railway gate including a gear wheel, a detent coacting with the gear wheel, an operating member, an actuating element carried by the operating member and in co-operative relation with the said gear wheel, a detent mounted on the operat ing member and normally preventing rotation of the actuating element in one direction, an electric releasing circuit for the said two detents including a switch automatically operable by the railway gate actuating mechanism, an electrically operated device for imparting an oscillatory movement to the said operating member, included in a circuit which contains a switch, and means mounted upon the said operating member and adapted to operate said switch whereby the operating circuit is intermittently broken to cause an oscillatory move ment to be imparted to the said operating member.

5. Railway protecting means oi the character set fort the same comprising a gate normally maintained in open position, actuating means therefor including a gear wheel, an electrically operated detent for preventing backward rotation of said gear wheel, an operating member, an actuating element carried thereby and adapted to intermittently operate said gear wheel to effeet a closing of the gate by stages, an electrically operated detent carried by the operating member and normally preventing rotation of the actuating element in one direction, a releasing circuit including the electrically actuating means for both detents, electrically operated means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said opcrating member and included in an operating circuit means mounted on the operating tation of the gear wheel, an operating memher, an actuating element carried thereby and adapted to intermittently operate said gear wheel, a detent mounted on the operating member and normally engaging the actuating element, electrically V operable means for both detents included in a releasing circuit a switch in the releasing circuit controllable by the gate actuating mechanism, electrically actuated means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said operating member included-in an operating circuit, a duplex switch common to said releasing and operating circuitsya switch in the operating circuit adapted to be interthe said duplex switch mittently actuated by the said operating member,'an electrically operable means for included in a" track circuit.

I ment, gate actuating '7. Railway protective means of the character specified the same comprising a gate normally maintained in open position and adapted to be'closedby' a step by step movemeans including a electrically: operated train of gearing and detent for preventing the train of gearing, an operating member, an actuating element, carried bythe operating member for imparting an intermittent movement to the gate actuating mechanism, an electrically operated detent for said actuating element mounted upon the operating member, a release for the two detents a switch in the releasing circuitadapted to be automatically operated by the train ofgearing, electrically actuated means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said operating member included cuit a switch-in the operating circuit controllable bythe oscillatory movements of the said operating member, a duplex switch common to the releasing and operating circuits and electrically actuated means tor the said duplex switch included in a track c1rcuit and controlled thereby.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. g i

JOSEPH B. ATKINS.

Witnesses o F. Srnernm.

backward rotation ot in an operating c1r-- 

